Process for treating oils



y 1, 1929. A. s. MORRIS 1,114,231

PROCESS FOR TREATING OI LS Filed Dec. 23. 1922 gwuwnkou Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY SAUNDERS MORRIS, or HAVERFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro CRES- SON-MORRIS COMPANY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS FOR TREATING OILS.

Application filed December 23, 1922. Serial No. 608,594.

This invention :relates to processes for treating oils; and it comprises a method of purifying oils with alkali. solution (usually a solution of caustic soda) wherein effective intermingling of the oil and alkali s obtained by producing a cyclic circulation to and from a body of commingled oil and alkali solution of a relatively small proportion of said body, withdrawal bemg advantageously at a low point of said body and return at a somewhat higher point, the returned liquid being directed laterally and upwardly to secure effective stirring, portions of the mixed liquid being withdrawn from the circulating means after admixture becomes thorough and without discontinuance of circulation, and the withdrawn portions being sent to a separating apparatus without permitting time for settling; and it further comprises a kettle or the like having a heating means such as a steam jacket or coil, an outlet near the low point, connections from said outlet to a pump, two connections from said pump, both being under control, one of said connections leading from the pump back to an inside point in the kettle preferably at a point above the kettle outlet and the other connection from the pump leading to a point of further treatment of the oil such as a centrifugal or the like, together advantageously, with means on that connection leading from the pump back to the receptacle which will cause a lateral and upward circulation of returned liquid in such a way that the outlet from the kettle to the pump will withdraw from the kettle only thoroughly mixed liquor all as more fully hereinafter set forth. and as claimed;

It has been proposed in methods of puristantial bodyof aqueous liquid (and entangled oil) can settle out by gravitation.

treated oils'a separation taking place .be-'

fore there has been time for the formation of colloid bodies of oil and soap; beforethe oil is entangled in the soapy foots. There is a measurable degree of saving of oil otherwise going out with the foots and there is the result of a treated oil exceptionally clear of foreign matter, soaps and colloid bodies. 1

I have discovered that a highly effective intermingling of the alkali with the oil in a process .of the describedtype can be accomplished by a continuous pump circulation of a part of the main body of such a mixture, the circulation being from a bottom point of the mixture away from and back to a low point just above such bottom point thereby preventing deposition of foots; and I have found that by means of a pump circuit for causing this circulation provided with certain connections, I can I thus permitting the formation of oil entangled bodies.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown apparatus useful in the performance of my process and within the purview of my invention.

The figure is a vertical longitudinal section partly in elevation with the centrifugal shown more or less diagrammatically.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates a 'kettle ,which may be cylindrical or horizontal in cross section and which is provided at its bottom with a steam jacket 2 having a steam inlet 3 and steam outlet or condensed water outlet 4. In the place of, or in connection with, the jacket, steam coils 5 may be used. The kettle is provided with the flange 6 for the reception of the kettle section 7 which in turn is flanged, at 8 for reception of the flanged top 9. The parts may be secured in position by bolts 10 and 11, respectively. The top is provided with the inlet 12 for the oil to be treated and with inlet 13 for the alkali or. other chemical used. These inlets. may be used for a continuous processmr for an intermittent or batch process. The section 7 is provided with a pipe 14 which extends downwardly near the center of the kettle to a oint near the bottom thereof and outside the kettle for connection to another pipe to be described. The provision of the separate section 7 permits easy disassembling of the apparatus for cleaning and the like, the section 7 being removable ith the pipe 14. This pipe 14 carries at its extreme end in the kettle a deflector plate 15 which may be supported by a plurality of spider arms 16, such deflector plate substantially covering (but spaced away from) outlet 1.7 which is located at a low point of the kettle. As shown by the arrows, downcoming liquid-1s deflected u ward byth e plate. The pipe 14 outside t e kettle is provided with a valve 18 and the outlet 17 of the kettle is in direct communication with a pum here diagrammatically shown as a centri ugal pump 19 operated by pulley 20 and belt 21 driven by a suitable motor (not shown). Pipe 22 connects the pump by means of the T-23 either with the pipe 14 past the valve 18 or with the pipe 24 past the valve 25. Pipe 24 leads to the centrifugal apparatus which is diagrammatically shown and is designated as a whole by reference numeral 26.

In operation, a charge of oil and alkali in the proper proportions as determined by analysis 0 the oil and corresponding to the character of the oil .to be produced, is charged into the kettle 1. The pump started and the mixture in the kettle is violently circulated from the bottom of the kettle through the pipe 22 past valve 18 into pipe 14 and back to the kettle, striking the deflector plate 15 and passing laterally and ulpwardly into the main body of the-liquor, t us vio ently agitating it' and maintaining the admixture of the oil and alkali. The construction is such that there'is a rapid circulation and thorough interminglin of the alkali and the oil. The top of t e kettle may be provided with an inlet vent or the valve on one of the lines 12 and '13 may be opened somewhat to ermit entrance of air. Durin this time t e mixture is usually heate by means of steam in the steam 'acket, or by means of the steam coils 5.

' be closed somewhat and the valve 25 opened somewhat to allow feeding or bleedin off of a portion of the mixture to the centri ugal through pipe 24. This operation ermits constant withdrawal of a portion of t e mixture bled off to the centrifugal or separating device all will, of course, depend upon the character of the oil under treatment as well as the character of the treating chemical and will be obvious to the operator.

. As an illustrative example, with one particular oil the following specific conditlons were found satisfactory. This was a hydraulic pressed oil of very dark color containing 1.2 per cent of free fatty acids. It was to be refined with removal of free acid and production of a color of prime uality. The amount of soda used, as dr aOh was 0.437 parts per .100 parts of 011. The soda was added as a 20 B. solution and the temperature during the operation was kept at about 40 C. Approximately 20 minutes treatment was required. This specific example is cited as illustrative. Specific conditions may be varied over a wide range as contingencies of industrial practice require.

The process may be made continuous b the introduction of regulated streams of oil and alkali through inlets 12 and 13; but when this is done I prefer to first operate on a batch charge of oil and alkali and begin the admission of additional oil and alkali after a certain pro ortion of the original charge has been wit drawn through the regulating valve 25. After the process has been put in operation the additional oil and alkali ma be continuously introduced through i ets 12 and 13 even while a certain proportion 'of the mixture is withdrawn through regulating valve 25, but, in this.

event, I have found it expedient to speed up the pump somewhat. So feiras at present advised I consider the batch operation to be frequently more advantageous than the continuous operation, but my invention includes the continuous operation.

What I claimis:

1. In a tating in t e presence of caustic alkali solution and thereafter separating the oil from the reaction products so formed before the settling of foots, the steps which comprise establishing a body of oil-and admixed alkali solution, heatin the same, continuously withdrawing a portion of the oil from the body from a low point thereof and returning it beneath the level of the body and within the body in cyclic circulation, and forcibly directing the returned portion laterally and upwardly through the body, thereb causmg the returned portion to circulate through and to intermix with the body before being rocess of purifying-oil by agi- 5 lution and thereafter separating the oil from the reaction products so formed before settling of foots, the ste which comprise establishing a body of 011 and admixed alkali solution, heat' the same, continuously 10 withdrawing a portion of the oil from the lower part of the body, returning it to the body in cyclic circulation, forcibly directing the oil returned to thebod awa from the point of withdrawal and t roug the'body to efl'ect an 'tation thereof'and 'to effect intermixing o the returned oil with the body before further withdrawal, abstracting a part of the circulating liquid for further treatment and supplying replenishing additional oil and caustic alkali solution to the body.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed 111 Si ature.

= ONY SAUNDERS MORRIS. 

